Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

According to one embodiment, distribution system includes live
distributor and time-shifted distributor. Live distributor distributes
live content by streaming. Time-shifted distributor accumulates live
content distributed by streaming, and redistributes video content from
reproduction position requested by viewer. Time-shifted distributor
includes digest generator, menu creator and distributor. Digest generator
divides video content from start time of streaming distribution to
present time when streaming distribution is continuing into chapters,
extracts representative frame from each of chapters, and generates digest
movie including representative frame. Menu creator creates menu screen.
Distributor distributes digest movie selected on presented menu screen.

Claims:

1. A video distribution system comprising: a live distribution server
configured to distribute live content by streaming; and a time-shifted
distribution server configured to accumulate the live content distributed
by streaming, and redistribute the accumulated video content from a
reproduction position requested by a viewer, the time-shifted
distribution server comprising: a digest generator; a menu creator; and a
distributor, wherein the digest generator is configured to divide video
content from a start time of the distribution by streaming to a present
time when the distribution by streaming is continuing into a plurality of
chapters, extract a representative frame from each of the chapters, and
generate a digest movie including the representative frame, the menu
creator is configured to create a menu screen for selection of the digest
movie and presents the menu screen to the viewer, and the distributor is
configured to distribute the digest movie selected on the presented menu
screen to the viewer.

2. The video distribution system of claim 1, wherein after the
distributed digest movie catches up with video content of the present
time, the distributor transparently distributes the live content by
streaming.

3. A video distribution apparatus which accumulates live content
distributed from a live distribution server by streaming, and
redistributes the accumulated live content from a reproduction position
requested by a viewer, the video distribution apparatus comprising: a
digest generator; a menu creator; and a distributor, wherein the digest
generator is configured to divide video content from a start time of the
distribution by streaming to a present time when the distribution by
streaming is continuing into a plurality of chapters, extract a
representative frame from each of the chapters, and generate a digest
movie including the representative frame, the menu creator is configured
to create a menu screen for selection of the digest movie and presents
the menu screen to the viewer, and the distributor is configured to
distribute the digest movie selected on the presented menu screen to the
viewer.

4. The video distribution apparatus of claim 3, wherein after the
distributed digest movie catches up with video content of the present
time, the distributor transparently distributes the live content by
streaming.

5. A video distribution method performed by a time-shifted distribution
server applied to a video distribution system comprising a live
distribution server for distributing live content by streaming, the
method comprising: accumulating the live content distributed by
streaming; dividing video content from a start time of the distribution
by streaming to a present time when the distribution by streaming is
continuing into a plurality of chapters; extracting a representative
frame from each of the chapters; generating a digest movie including the
representative frame; creating a menu screen for selection of the digest
movie; presenting the menu screen to the viewer; and distributing the
digest movie selected on the presented menu screen to the viewer, wherein
at least one of the steps is performed by the time-shifted distribution
server.

6. The video distribution method of claim 5, wherein after the
distributed digest movie catches up with video content of the present
time, the time-shifted distribution server transparently distributes the
live content by streaming.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program executed
by a computer included in a video distribution system comprising a live
distribution server for distributing live content by streaming, the
program causing the computer to: accumulate the live content distributed
by streaming; divide video content from a start time of the distribution
by streaming to a present time when the distribution by streaming is
continuing into a plurality of chapters; extract a representative frame
from each of the chapters; generate a digest movie including the
representative frame; create a menu screen for selection of the digest
movie; present the menu screen to the viewer; and distribute the digest
movie selected on the presented menu screen to the viewer.

8. The medium of claim 7, wherein the program further causes the computer
to transparently distribute the live content by streaming after the
distributed digest movie catches up with video content of the present
time.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-057137, filed Mar. 14, 2012,
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] Embodiments described herein relate generally to a video
distribution system, a video distribution apparatus, a video distribution
method and a program for distributing, for example, video content to an
unidentified number of viewers in Internet protocol (IP) packets.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Services of distributing video content via an IP network are
common. Video content includes live video content distributed by
so-called live streaming and other video content. The other video content
can be viewed from the beginning by a technique such as Internet Protocol
video on demand (IP-VOD). However, generally, live video content can be
viewed only from the time when reproduction is started.

[0004] For example, in the case of live streaming of a game (for example,
soccer), if a viewer starts viewing after the first half of the game has
finished, the viewer can view only the second half of the game, and may
be dissatisfied, especially if one of the highlights of the game is in
the first half.

[0005] Distribution services which enable viewing by going back in time
even during live streaming are known. This type of function is called
time-shifted function distribution or a startover function.

[0006] By using the startover function, a viewer can view from the
beginning of the game even during the middle of the game. However, since
the game is ongoing, many viewers wish to catch up with the present scene
and then view in real time. By requesting a service provider to
fast-forward content, distributed video content can be reproduced at high
speed.

[0007] However, if the existing technique is used, a highlight may be
skipped by fast-forward, causing viewers to be dissatisfied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 shows an example of a video distribution system according to
an embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 4 shows an example of the processing procedure performed by
the startover distribution server 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] In general, according to one embodiment, a video distribution
system includes a live distribution server and a time-shifted
distribution server. The live distribution server distributes live
content by streaming. The time-shifted distribution server accumulates
the live content distributed by streaming, and redistributes the
accumulated video content from a reproduction position requested by a
viewer. The time-shifted distribution server includes a digest generator,
a menu creator and a distributor. The digest generator divides video
content from a start time of the distribution by streaming to a present
time when the distribution by streaming is continuing into a plurality of
chapters, extracts a representative frame from each of the chapters, and
generates a digest movie including the representative frame. The menu
creator creates a menu screen for selection of the digest movie and
presents the menu screen to the viewer. The distributor distributes the
digest movie selected on the presented menu screen to the viewer.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an example of a video distribution system according to
an embodiment. In this embodiment, live streaming, which distributes live
video, and startover, which distributes video for time-shifted viewing,
are supposed.

[0014] The system shown in FIG. 1 comprises a live distribution server 10,
a startover distribution server 20 and viewing terminals 41-43, which are
all connected to an Internet protocol (IP) network 100. The viewing
terminals 41-43 are connected to the IP network 100 via, for example,
respective set-top boxes (STBs) 31-33 functioning as interfaces.

[0015] In response to a viewer's request, the live distribution server 10
transmits to the IP network 100 a (transport) stream packet (i.e., an IP
packet) including live video.

[0016] The IP packet is distributed via the IP network 100 by streaming
based on, for example, a real-time transport protocol (RTP) and received
by the STBs 31-33. The STBs 31-33 transcribe video and audio from the
received IP packet, and reproduce the video and audio at the viewing
terminals 41-43.

[0017] The startover distribution server 20 accumulates video content
transmitted from the live distribution server 10 (hereinafter referred to
as "original video content"). The startover distribution server 20
redistributes video content from the reproduction position requested by a
viewer, thereby enabling time-shifted viewing of live video.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the
startover distribution server 20 shown in FIG. 1. Unlike FIG. 1, which
shows the embodiment in which the startover distribution server 20 is
connected to the live distribution server 10 via the IP network 100, FIG.
2 shows an embodiment in which the startover distribution server 20 is
connected to the live distribution server 10 via a local area network
(LAN) 200. However, the function of the startover distribution server 20
and that of the live distribution server 10 may be implemented in the
same computer.

[0019] Further, the function of the startover distribution server 20 may
be implemented in a so-called cloud computing system, which comprises at
least one server and at least one database.

[0020] Hereinafter, viewing at viewing terminal 41 will be described as an
example. The same description applies to viewing terminals 42, 43.

[0022] The recorder 20a, menu creator 20b, digest generator 20c, and
distributor 20d are realized, for example, as programs executed by the
startover distribution server 20, which is a computer.

[0023] The programs may be executed by a stand-alone computer.
Alternatively, the programs may be executed by a system including a
plurality of computers. Further, the functions of the programs may be
understood as services provided by a cloud computing system.

[0024] The recorder 20a obtains original video content transmitted from
the live distribution server 10. The obtained original video content is
stored in the memory 20e. In addition to the original video content
obtained from the recorder 20a, the memory 20e stores information and
video content generated by the digest generator 20c and a menu screen
created by the menu creator 20b.

[0025] The memory 20e may be realized as a memory included in, for
example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD) or another
computer (server). The memory 20e may also be realized as a storage
device included in a data center or a database of a cloud computing
system.

[0026] The digest generator 20c divides the original video content
obtained from the live distribution server 10 into a plurality of
chapters. The divided video content is that from the start time of
streaming distribution to the present time when streaming distribution is
continuing.

[0027] The original video content is divided into a plurality of chapters
which are sets of similar scenes on the basis of the result of analysis
of characteristics of video or audio, or divided into chapters on the
basis of a predetermined period or a predetermined number of frames. The
timestamp of each chapter of the original video content is stored in the
memory 20e.

[0028] The digest generator 20c extracts a representative frame from each
chapter. The digest generator 20c sets video in the period (for example,
five seconds) before and after the representative frame as a digest scene
(digest movie). The timestamp of the representative frame and the
timestamps of the start and end of the digest scene are stored in the
memory 20e. The digest scene includes one or more highlight.

[0029] The menu creator 20b creates a menu screen for selecting and
designating a digest movie, and transmits it to the viewing terminal 41,
whereby the menu screen is presented to a viewer. The menu screen shows,
for example, chapters created before a startover viewing request is
received from the viewing terminal 41.

[0030] The list of chapters shown in the menu enables the viewer to select
a chapter to start reproduction from or a digest scene to reproduce by
using the viewing terminal 41.

[0031] The distributor 20d receives a startover viewing request from the
viewing terminal 41. The distributor 20d reads data corresponding to the
startover viewing request from the memory 20e, and distributes data to
the viewing terminal 41, which originated the request. Accordingly, the
distributor 20d distributes a digest movie selected on the menu screen
presented to a viewer to the viewing terminal 41 of the viewer.

[0032] After the distributed digest movie catches up with the video
content of the present time, the distributor 20d transparently
distributes live content by streaming, thereby enabling a viewer who has
finished viewing the digest scene to go on to view original video content
in real time.

[0033] In the above configuration, the startover distribution server 20
divides original video content into chapters, extracts a representative
frame, and generates a digest scene in parallel with recording of
original video content.

[0034] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the startover function. For example,
let us assume that a soccer game is started at ten, and a viewer starts
viewing from eleven. Since content is distributed by live streaming, the
viewer normally views the game from halfway. However, use of the
startover function enables the viewer to view the game from the beginning
even though the first half of the game has finished.

[0035] For example, let us assume a viewer performs an operation of
requesting startover viewing when the second half of the soccer game is
started. The viewer can sequentially view digest scenes of the first half
of the game following the order of digest scenes. Alternatively, the
viewer can select any digest scenes for viewing.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows an example of the processing procedure performed by
the startover distribution server 20. The startover distribution server
20 obtains streaming data of live content distributed by the live
distribution server 10 by streaming via the LAN 200 or IP network 100.
The obtained data is accumulated in the memory 20e (step S1).

[0037] The startover distribution server 20 analyzes characteristics of
video and audio of video content and divides the video content into a
plurality of chapters (step S2).

[0038] Next, the startover distribution server 20 extracts a
characteristic frame (representative frame) from each chapter (step S3).
The startover distribution server 20 generates a digest movie including
video before and after the representative frame as a representative scene
(step S4).

[0039] Next, the startover distribution server 20 refers to divided
positions of generated chapters and representative frame positions, and
creates a menu screen showing currently-viewable chapters and their
representative frame images (step S5). The menu screen is presented on
the viewing terminal 41 (step S6). The menu screen is used by the viewer
of the viewing terminal 41 to select a chapter from which the viewer
wishes to start startover viewing.

[0040] If the original video content is still being distributed, the
startover distribution server 20 creates a menu screen of the time when
the startover viewing request is received. Namely, while the original
video content is being distributed, the menu screen is successively
updated, whereby menu items are sequentially added.

[0041] The startover distribution server 20 redistributes video of the
original video content stored in the memory 20e from the start position
of the selected chapter.

[0042] Alternatively, the startover distribution server 20 allows the
viewer to select any chapter a digest scene of which the viewer wishes to
view. The startover distribution server 20 starts reproduction of the
original video content stored in the memory 20e on the basis of the start
position information and end position information of the digest scene of
the selected chapter (step S7).

[0043] The startover distribution server 20 can transmit both live
streaming data under distribution and data for startover. Therefore, the
viewer can view startover viewing video and live video on the same
screen.

[0044] The digest movies after the selected chapter are sequentially
reproduced. After reproduction of the digest scene of the final chapter
is finished, the original video content being recorded is reproduced.
Therefore, the viewer who has viewed the digest scenes can go on to view
the original video content in real time. Namely, the viewer who has
viewed the digest scenes can start viewing on the same time-base as a
viewer who has been viewing the video content distributed by live
streaming from the beginning.

[0045] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the live
streaming distribution involving the startover function enables a viewer
to view video content from the start point to the end point by digests.
Namely, when performing time-shifted viewing by using the startover
function, the viewer can view past content while selecting portions of
the past content.

[0046] Consequently, the viewer can catch up with the present live video
while viewing digest scenes, such as a goal shot in a soccer game or the
like, and can view the end of the game at the same time as a viewer who
has viewed the game in real time from the beginning. Since the live movie
is reproduced by digests, the effect of reducing the possibility of
missing a highlight can be expected. If a viewer notices a highlight, the
viewer may perform an operation to switch from a digest reproduction mode
to a normal reproduction mode.

[0047] The series of processes from the startover reproduction, division
into chapters, generation of a digest movie to creation of a menu screen
is performed by equipment on the network side. Therefore, a viewer need
not have a dedicated device, such as a recording device, at home.
Accordingly, the viewer can advantageously enjoy desired video viewing
modes at low cost.

[0048] Since multimedia processing (such as division into chapters or
generation of digest movies) deals with a large amount of data, much time
is required for completing the processing if an embedded device or a home
personal computer is used. The embedded device or home personal computer
may not be able to process data sufficiently fast for the live streaming
distribution supposed in the present embodiment, and a game may finish
before a menu screen is provided to a viewer, which is meaningless.

[0049] In contrast, a dedicated server apparatus includes necessary
functions in the present embodiment, and processing can be performed in
good time for viewing in real time. It should be apparent that allowing a
home apparatus to have such an operation speed directly leads to increase
in cost.

[0050] The startover reproduction, division into chapters and generation
of digest movies may be entrusted to and realized by a cloud computing
system. This enables use of an enormous computer resource, and
consequently enables addition of further value to services.

[0051] For example, it becomes possible to use an algorithm suitable for
the type of content to extract representative frames, for example, to use
a logic dedicated to soccer or a logic dedicated to baseball. This should
enable extraction of representative frames with higher accuracy.

[0052] As described above, a video distribution system, a video
distribution apparatus, a video distribution method and a medium, which
prevent missing of a highlight even when video content is reproduced at
high speed can be provided.

[0053] While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments
have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit
the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described
herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various
omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments
described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the
inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to
cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and
spirit of the inventions.

Patent applications by Yasuo Ohya, Tokyo JP

Patent applications by KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA

Patent applications in class To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal

Patent applications in all subclasses To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal